Overview of research projects

Project Details:
Ticks of the genus Ixodes transmit various human and animal pathogens. In this long-term project running since 2005, pathogen prevalence in ticks in the city of Hannover, Germany, is monitored to investigate potential effects of climate change. In addition to the infection status of the ticks, the tick density in the Hannover area will also be determined.

Results:

Glass, A., Springer, A., Raulf, M.-K., Fingerle, V. Strube, C. (2023) 15-year Borrelia prevalence and species distribution monitoring in Ixodes ricinus/inopinatus populations in the city of Hanover, Germany. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 13, 102074

 

Glass, A., Springer, A., Strube, C. (2022) A 15-year monitoring of Rickettsiales (Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia spp.) in questing ticks in the city of Hanover, Germany. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 13, 101975

 

Hauck, D., Springer, A., Chitimia-Dobler, L., Strube, C. (2020) Two-year monitoring of tick abundance and influencing factors in an urban area (city of Hanover, Germany). Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 11, 101464

 

Blazejak, K., Raulf, M.-K., Janecek, E., Jordan, D., Fingerle, V., Strube, C. (2018) Shifts in Borrelia burgdorferi (s.l.) geno-species infections in Ixodes ricinus over a 10-year surveillance period in the city of Hanover (Germany) and Borrelia miyamotoi-specific Reverse Line Blot detection. Parasites & Vectors 11, 304

 

Blazejak, K., Janecek, E., Strube, C. (2017) A 10-year surveillance of Rickettsiales (Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in the city of Hanover, Germany, reveals Rickettsia spp. as emerging pathogens in ticks. Parasites & Vectors 10, 588

Cooperation Partners:

Dr. V. Fingerle, Nationales Referenzzentrum für Borrelien, Oberschleißheim

Project Details:
The project is aimed at the modelling and analysis of diverse veterinary epidemio-logic data arising from consultant work. The range of statistical modelling ap-proaches includes general models and special topics like logistic regression, zero inflation, non-linear regression (especially growth curves), cluster analysis, contin-gency table analysis and multi-block redundancy analysis (multi-factorial and multi-variate linear regression analysis).

Results:

Kreienbrock L, Pigeot I, Ahrens W.

Epidemiologische Methoden. Berlin: Springer Spektrum; 5. Auflage 2012.

ISBN: 978-3-8274-2333-7

 

Berke, O. Modified median polish kriging and its applica-tion to the Wolfcamp-Aquifer data.

Environmetrics. 2001;12(8):731-48.

 

Kreienbrock L, Broll S. Methodische Aspekte zur Qualitätssicherung veteri-närepidemiologischer Studien. [Methodologic aspects of quality assurance in veterinary epi-demiological studies].

Dtsch Tierarztl Wochenschr. 1999 Sep;106(9):381-5.

Cooperation Partners:

- Fachbereich Statistik, Universität Dortmund

- Leibniz-Institut für Epidemiologie, Bremen

- Hochschule Hannover

- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph

Project Details:
Ziel der Entwicklung von Leitlinien zur Guten Klinischen Praxis war die Gewährleistung international anerkannter ethischer und wissenschaftlicher Qualitätsanforderungen in zulassungsrelevanten Arzneimittelstudien. Da ein hoher Qualitätsstandard aber auch in anderen Bereichen wünschenswert ist, werden GCP Prinzipien zunehmend auch bei anderen Studien oder Untersuchungen angewandt.

Dieses Projekt verfolgt das Ziel, den Inhalt der Guideline dem betroffenen Personenkreis bekannt zu machen und darauf hinzuwirken, die Qualitätsanforderungen auch im Bereich der universitären Forschungsprojekte umzusetzen. Aus biometrischer Sicht wird dabei besonderes Gewicht auf die die Statistik und das Datenmanagement betreffenden Teile der Leitlinie gelegt.

Neben der Information werden dazu auch Dienstleistungen, etwa die Mitarbeit bei der Erstellung von Prüfplänen oder Review von Studienprotokollen angeboten. Insbesondere wird angestrebt, bei vom Institut betreuten und ausgewerteten Studien GCP-konform zu arbeiten und ggf. dazu notwendige "Standard Operating Procedures" (SOPs) zu erarbeiten.

Results:

Kreienbrock L, Pigeot I, Ahrens W. Epidemiologische Methoden. Berlin: Springer Spektrum; 5. Auflage 2012. ISBN: 978-3-8274-2333-7

 

Glaser S, Kreienbrock L. Stichprobenplanung bei veterinärmedizinischen Studien. Ein Leitfaden zur Bestimmung des Untersuchungsumfangs. Hannover: Schlüter-sche; 2011. ISBN-13: 978-389993-078-8 ISBN-10: 3-89993-078-9

 

Glaser S, Dahms S, Röhmel J, Weiß H, Kreienbrock L. Statistische Grundlagen von "Good Clinical Practice" in der Veterinärmedizin - ein Positionspapier zur Planung, Durchführung und Auswertung empirischer Untersuchungen. Dtsch Tierarztl Wo-chenschr. 2002 Feb;109(2):68-72.

Funding: Grimminger-Stiftung, 20.000 EUR

Project Details:
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is mainly transmitted to humans through meat and meat products from infected animals. The transmission route via the environment through contaminated soil, water and/or (arable) plants has long been discussed. Possible vectors include manure or waste water. Many studies show that a considerable proportion of meat and sausage products as well as many wastewater and even surface water samples can be tested positive for HEV RNA. All these studies are based on RT-PCR testing, i.e. the detection of the HEV genome. In order to carry out a better risk assessment, for example when consuming food, and to be able to identify the spread of the virus and chains of infection more precisely, it is necessary to determine the intactness and thus the infectivity of the virus in such samples. In this project, meat and sausage samples as well as environmental samples in the form of manure and wastewater will be analyzed for the presence of HEV RNA as well as for the infectivity of the virus. For this purpose, a stable and efficient cell culture system has been established in recent years, which has already been successfully used to isolate HEV capable of replication from wild and domestic pig organ samples.

Funding: Ministerium für Energiewende, Klimaschutz, Umwelt und Natur (MEKUN), 23.177 EUR

Project Details:
Recently, there has been an increase in strandings of sea turtles on the Schleswig-Holstein coast. Between 2022 and 2024, a total of five animals have stranded so far. The loggerhead turtle, leatherback turtle and Atlantic bastard turtle were found.
The reasons for the current increased occurrence of sea turtles in the North Sea are not known. In general, the water temperatures here are too cold for the animals, especially in winter. As a result, the animals enter a state of rigidity, as reptiles are highly dependent on the ambient temperature. In this state, the animals can no longer move actively and drift with the current. The recent increase in the number of finds could indicate a new trend, but this will have to be confirmed over the next few years. However, due to the expected rise in temperature as a result of climate change, a more frequent occurrence of these sea creatures on our coasts seems likely in the long term.
The main aim of this pilot study is to collect data on the occurrence of sea turtles on the coasts of Schleswig-Holstein. Dead stranded sea turtles will be dissected at the Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research (ITAW) in order to uncover the causes of stranding and the incidence of disease.
The project is divided into the following five subsections.
1. data collection: Data on sea turtles stranded on the Schleswig-Holstein coast will be collected. To this end, contact is made with various stakeholders such as the LKN, the Wadden Sea Protection Station, the Jordsand e.V. association and local fishermen. The strandings that occur during the course of the project are also recorded.
2. genetic studies: Samples from dead and live stranded turtles will be genetically analyzed to determine the species and subpopulation.
3. dead body monitoring: Dead stranded sea turtles will be pathologically examined at the ITAW to obtain information on morphometrics, age, sex and disease incidence. In addition to recording biometric data, a macroscopic examination of the carcass is carried out. Depending on the state of preservation of the carcass and the presence of signs of disease, further examinations are carried out. These include histology, parasitology and microbiology.
4. participation in live strandings: The ITAW supports the country in the event of live strandings. This includes advice, contacting international experts, investigation and sampling.
5. establishment of international contacts: This project also aims to establish contacts with sea turtle experts in Europe and worldwide, firstly to become part of the global turtle network and secondly to be able to obtain expert advice on various topics.

Funding: Aarhus University, 76.538 EUR

Project Details:
The aim of the project is to process the survey data from the summer period and aggregate the quality-checked data for the North Sea in the period 2021-2024; or a period close to that depending on data and model checking. An extraction of relevant environmental covariates, describing the habitat of harbour porpoises, and a fit of a species distribution model (generalized additive model GAM) is planned. The final selected model enables the spatial prediction of the harbour porpoise summer density in the study area. Subsequently, a model validation, estimation of the model error and confidence intervals is planned. Finally, a short technical report will be written to describe the method and the results with a focus on Danish waters in the North Sea.

Funding: Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, ländliche Räume, Europa und Verbraucherschutz (MLLEV), 48.467 EUR

Project Details:
Title: Scientific investigation of seals released in accordance with animal welfare regulations, especially with regard to infectious diseases and zoonotic pathogens, as well as the scientifically based further training of personnel of the stranding network for the North and Baltic Seas of Schleswig-Holstein
The harbor seal is the most common marine mammal species in Schleswig-Holstein and causes the most call-outs for seal hunters. In the last three decades, seal populations have experienced several major epizootics, but have subsequently grown in size again. In recent years, however, it has been observed that this growth has stagnated and younger seals in particular are disappearing from the populations.
Seals can be carriers of infectious agents such as the Phocine distemper virus, influenza viruses, brucella and erysipelas, some of which can have fatal consequences for the individual animal or the population. These infectious agents are often zoonotic in nature and can promote secondary infections with other pathogens such as Bordetella bronchiseptica or toxoplasmosis.
In addition to comprehensive pathological examinations of the seals, microbiological, virological and parasitological examinations will also be carried out in this project.
Particular attention will be paid to the young animals in order to check whether there may be health related reasons for their decline. For this purpose, a representative number of all seals handed in by seal hunters from the North and Baltic Seas will be selected and subjected to complete post-mortems and further examinations.
The scientific findings will be directly incorporated into the work of the seal hunters, who will receive regular training in the detection of diseases and the handling of marine mammals. Hygiene measures and documentation materials will be developed and reviewed, and accident prevention training will be provided. To this end, a scientific exchange with the seal hunters will take place throughout the entire research project period.
The occurrence of infectious diseases such as brucellosis, erysipelas, bird flu and phocine distemper and the occurrence of the causative pathogens will be investigated. The focus is the assessment of the seals health status and the zoonotic potential of the infectious agents detected with regard to a possible risk of infection for the seal hunters and collectors involved in the stranding network. Seal hunters and collectors are therefore trained in the detection of infectious diseases, hygiene concepts, assessment of health conditions and accident prevention.

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (MWK), 119.992 EUR

Project Details:
The proposed future discourse is intended to address the transformation of the energy supply in Germany and Europe and the associated conflicts in nature and species conservation. At the same time, knowledge about the problem should be communicated and suitable communication channels for the conflict should be found. In order to reduce CO2 emissions and delay the climate crisis, the expansion of offshore wind energy is being driven forward as part of the energy transition. Not only Germany, but also Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK and Sweden, among others, have far-reaching expansion plans for the offshore wind industry in the North Sea. These plans could turn this area into a large industrial park. However, the marine ecosystems are already being affected: The construction of offshore wind power plants is not the first or only human intervention. In fact, the North Sea has been polluted for several decades by inputs from the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, eutrophication, fishing, shipping, munitions waste, invasive species and much more. At the same time, it is also the habitat of harbor porpoises, which are the only native cetacean species in German waters. According to the latest European population surveys, the population of these animals is increasingly shifting to the southern North Sea(www.tiho-hannover.de/SCANS). In order to protect the harbor porpoise population that uses the German Bight, we would already need more protection and less pressure on the animals.
On the other hand, we have obligations towards the preservation of biodiversity, nature conservation and species protection (EU Biodiversity Strategy) and therefore, for example, towards the harbor porpoise. Far less is known about the harbor porpoise than about polar bears. The state of the harbor porpoise population in the North Sea is not good, and its habitat is being subjected to further pressures with the construction of offshore wind farms in Germany, but also in the other countries bordering the North Sea. We therefore need to discuss how we can achieve the energy transition and at the same time improve the living conditions of harbor porpoises and other marine life in order to protect them.
The following current social issues should be included in the proposed discourse:

1. transformation: The energy transition is bringing a fundamental change for our society with sudden changes in technological, economic and political developments that have an impact on every single person. This transformation is unavoidable due to the climate crisis, but must of course also be supported by society.
2. communication of knowledge/digitization: The transfer and communication of knowledge about the climate crisis/energy transition and biodiversity/species and nature conservation must be ensured for all social milieus. This is often more effective with digitalized strategies, as this allows more diverse target groups from different geographical locations to participate in discussions and conversations. Knowledge content, questions and discussion impulses should therefore be disseminated and discussed primarily via social networks.
3. strengthening democratic debate and the democratic community: As the climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity affect the well-being of all people, this discourse is a great opportunity to involve many people and groups in a democratic debate. It gives them the opportunity to get involved in an issue that directly affects them and to express their thoughts, concerns and ideas.
4. issues of European identity: The challenges in the area of climate crisis/energy transition and biodiversity/species and nature conservation can only be successfully advanced with a cross-border, European identity and coordination. It is therefore very important to include the plans of other European countries in the discussions and to discuss them with other European citizens (in digital form with the help of translations). This should also be organized for the younger generations in particular. Because, like the porpoise in the North Sea, we are pursuing the same goal: a healthy environment worth living in.

Structured debates involving scientific findings and national and international expertise will shed light on the topic of the climate crisis/energy transition and biodiversity/species and nature conservation from different perspectives.

Funding: Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, 104.438 EUR

Project Details:
From 12.04. to 15.04.2023 the "Black Grouse Symposium 2023, Will the black grouse survive in the Lüneburg Heath?" took place at Camp Reinsehlen in Schneverdingen. The event was organized by the Alfred Toepfer Academy for Nature Conservation (NNA), the ITAW, the Lower Saxony Hunting Association (LJN), the Lower Saxony Ministries of Agriculture (ML) and Environment (MU) and the Nature Conservation Park Association (VNP). At the symposium, the alarming state of the black grouse population in Lower Saxony, known and suspected causes of this state and possible solutions were discussed. The participants, in particular the local stakeholders from the areas of occurrence, clearly advocated a species aid program for the black grouse in the Lüneburg Heath, which should provide a framework for eliminating the problems discussed in the best possible way and achieving a healthy, stable population in the medium to long term.

At a follow-up event initiated by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in June 2023, the project to develop a black grouse action plan was launched. The project is being implemented by the ITAW and the NNA. The contents of the action plan will be coordinated with the involved stakeholders from landowners, authorities and other interest groups as part of a "round table".

Cooperation Partners:

Projektpartner: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz (NNA)

Funding: Karl-Eibl-Stiftung, 14.280 EUR

Project Details:
Ziel der Untersuchungen ist es, spezifische Referenzintervalle für Bullen der Rasse Deutsches Fleckvieh zu generieren. Hierbei sollen Proben aus der V. jugularis externa untersucht werden. Als Probenentnahmezeitpunkt wird die zweite Probengewinnung (vgl. EU VO 2020/686) frühestens 28 Tage (max. 30Tage) nach Einstallung und Beprobung des "letzten" Tieres der Quarantäneeinheit herangezogen, die routinemäßig bei den Tieren aus seuchenhygienischen Gründen genommen wird. Dieser Zeitpunkt ist auch geeignet, um eine Aussage über die endokrine Reife und damit den Zeitpunkt für den Beginn der Spermaproduktion abzuschätzen. Die Werte sollen auch im Hinblick auf die Spermaquantität und -qualität der ersten Sprünge der Tiere ausgewertet werden, um spezifische Grenzbereiche zu etablieren für Bullen mit höherer versus schlechterer Spermaquantität bzw. -qualität.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Heiner Bollwein, University of Zurich | UZH · Clinic of Reproductive Medicine